In a statement from Santo Tomas Municipal Information Office on March 31, Municipal Administrator lawyer Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña said the verified complaint will be filed on the same date at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Davao Del Norte as she received a copy of the viral video on March 30.
The statement said the case came out when Omallao appeared in a political rally in Barangay San Jose on Tuesday, March 29 and issued allegedly “malicious” and “defamatory” statements against Eugenio, and Evangelista. The video has since then circulated online.
“Simple lang ni Mr. Omallao, for every lies, deception, and libelous statement you made against Ms. Bernadeth Eugenio and to our Mayor, prove them in court. Walay angay istoryahan or negotiation. You fired the shots first so might as well take the consequence of your actions,” Evangelista-Lapiña said.
The Municipal Administrator said Omallao allowed himself to be used in politics.
Evangelista-Lapiña said that another P800 million libel case will be charged against a group of individuals who also defamed, maligned, dishonored, and discredit the Evangelista administration.
“Kaila naman mo kung kinsa mo. We have all the audio and video recordings sa inyong pulong-pulong. Gi capitalize pa ninyo akong Tatay ug ako to advance inyong political agenda, ug political ambitions. Resibuhay lang ta para makit-an ang katag ug tinuod na istorya. We will make all of you accountable for your malicious actions,” she said.
The Municipal Administrator said she dared the critics of the Evangelista administration to file a case to prove who is lying and who is doing a black propaganda in the run-up of the May 9 elections.
“File mo og kaso! Kung tan-aw ninyo naay corruption then file a case para mailhan ang katag. We will not be cowed. This is also an opprtunity para mailhan sa katawhan kung kinsa ang mga politiko ug mga private individuals na gusto makapahimulos sa kwarta sa katawhan kay tungod sa mga negosyo lang ang interest. Ang uban mudagan lang kay tungod himuong panginabuhian ang LGU kay walay trabaho, ang uban mudagan kay protection sa mga negosyo,” she said.
She said the Evangelista administration is ready to face the battle against misinformation and defamation head on.
“Walay hangyo or negotiation mahitabo. And besides several government and privte agencies are with us in our fight against TRUTH. In fact, they’re already checking the records of these business and found anomalous transactions,” Evangelista said.
Meanwhile, Eugenio-Aquino issued a statement denying the allegations by Omallao where she branded Omallao’s statemet as pure “false and lies.”
“So sa stement ni Hon. Omallao, I know naa man gyud tay different political views and parties pero akong i-emphasize nga dili unta ta maghatag og statements na false and lies. If naa tay mga ginasuportaan na mga political parties, mag stick ta sa atoang support without touching sa mga past issues or unsa pa na mga pandaot na ginaingon para sa atong mga kaatbang sa politika,” she said.
Photo : Santo Tomas MIO